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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: Paul Sankoh <paulsankoh635@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 3 Jun 2022 08:45:57 +0200
Subject: re

Good Day,
I know this letter might beat your imagination as we have no previous
correspondence. My name is Paul Sankoh, the son of Kabba Sankoh, a
Sierra-Leonean business man and Co-Owner of Mining Company. My dad died a
few years ago when the Revolutionary United Front (R.U.F) rebels attacked
our residence in Free-Town, Sierra-Leone. Following the cease fire
agreement which was reached with the help of the United Nations
Peace-Keeping Troops, I used the opportunity to leave the country with a
very important document relating to a cash deposit of $10.6 Million
deposited here in South Africa. The funds were realized from diamond
export. Presently, my mother and I are seeking asylum in South Africa. I
contacted you because of the need to deal with a person whom my family has
no previous personal relationship with. I got your contact from the
Internet as transparent and trust-worthy to engage in business, hence my
reason for writing to you to please help my family to transfer the funds to
your country for investment. We have decided to offer you 20% percent of
the total fund $10.6 Million for your involvement and assistance in the
claim and transfer of the funds out of South Africa to your country,
Meanwhile the remaining 80% will be for my family investments in your
country under your supervision, pending my arrival in your country after
the successful completion of the fund transfer to your account.
I await your prompt response
Best Regards,
Paul Sankoh
(On behalf of my Family)

Anti-fraud resources: